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On the final day of the Sr. Central American Track and Field Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, reigning Bahamas National Long Jump Champion *Bianca Stuart* leapt into the history books, matching the Championships record as well as setting a new Bahamian National Record in the Long Jump.
Stuart’s giant leapt was 6.81m (22’-4-1/4”). Elva Goulbourne of Jamaica set the CAC mark in 2003, in Grenada.
Her jump surpasses the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) A-standard qualifying mark for the Daegu World Championships (August, 2011) as well as the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Stuart, who has been the Bahmas Long Jump Champion since 2008, took town a 23 year-old National Long Jump Record. The old Bahamian record of 6.80m was set by Shonel Ferguson in Taichung, Taiwan in 1982 on the way to the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. It was tied by Jackie Edwards in San Jose, California in 1996.
After Stuart did her feats at CAC, a gold rush ensued for Team Bahamas. Next, The Bahamas ruled supreme in the 200m.
Nivea Smith tied her personal best of 22.80sec in winning the CAC crown and Anthonique Strachan won the Silver medal in 22.90sec, and new personal best. Strachan ran 22.93sec in the semi-final of the Carifta Games in April for a personal best.
Right afterward Michael Mathieu won the Men’s 200m in 20.60sec. Demetrius Pinder had made the final but decided not to run.
Lavern Eve placed fifth in the Javelin with a throw of 50.41m (165’5”).
In one of the final events of the evening Trevor Barry won the Gold medal in the High Jump with a jump of 2.28m (7’5-1/4”). Ryan Ingraham in his first ever senior team placed fourth with a jump of 2.22m.
In the final event of the evening, The Bahamas won the 4x400m relay in 3:01.33. The team was made up of LaToy Williams Avard Williams, Michael Mathieu, and Ramon Miller.
This gives the Bahamas a total of five Gold medals, two
Silver medals, and three Bronze medals, for a total ten medals, placing them fourth in the competition.
Jamaica won the medal count with 10 Gold, 6 Silver, and 10 Bronze, a total of 26 medals.
Mexico finished in second with a7 Gold, 6 Silver, and 7 Bronze, a total of 20 medals.
Trinidad & Tobago finished third with 6 Gold, 3 Silver, and 5 Bronze, for a total of 14 medals.
The BAAA wishes to thank the athletes, officials, parents, fans, the media, The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and most of all those corporate and individual financial supports, without whom success would have not been possible.
Alpheus Finlayson
